Deutsche Bahn feeds solar power directly into traction power grid

Railway operator Deutsche Bahn has started for the first time feeding power from a 41-MWp newly built solar park directly into the German traction power grid.

The solar power is produced by a 40-hectare (98.8-acre) plant that was set up in partnership with solar developer Enerparc in Wasbek, Schleswig-Holstein. The electricity generated there is fed directly into the 16.7 Hz traction current network via Deutsche Bahn's converter plant in Neumuenster.

The solar park in Wasbek is expected to generate around 38 GWh per year which is enough to cover the electricity demand of the entire German traction power grid for one day. With the commissioning of the solar system, up to 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year will be avoided.

The special thing about the solar park in Wasbek is that, in contrast to the established grid connection with the public power grid, a corresponding solution for connections with the traction power grid was developed for the first time, commented Enerparc's chief executive Christoph Koeppen.

Deutsche Bahn operates its own traction current network in Germany and already covers more than 65% of the traction current, totalling 10 TWh annually, with renewable energy and plans to reach 100% by 2038. Its long-distance trains have been using 100% green electricity since 2018.

In addition, the state-owned railway operator plans to supply its plants, office buildings and train stations in Germany entirely with green electricity by 2025.

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